Bodybuilding.com - An Interview With 'Bank-Robber Catcher' Jewell.

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Did you know?
This year happened to be the 25th Anniversary of the Emerald Cup (2007).

I spoke with Todd recently and he discussed his recent run in with a bank robber, current events, training, dieting, and much more. Read on to get the latest!

An Interview With 'Bank-Robber Catcher' Jewell.

By: Matt Weik

[ Matt ] Todd, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview for us. Let's start off by first getting some background information. What got you into the sport of bodybuilding?

[ Todd ] I have always been competitive by nature. In searching for an outlet for that competitiveness, I was introduced to the sport of bodybuilding by a friend of mine by the name of Matt Lowden. Matt and I had been training together for about a year when he convinced me to compete for the first time.

He taught the basics of contest prep and posing. I entered the 2002 World Federation of Natural Athletes West Coast Natural Championships in which I won the light-heavyweight class. I was hooked from that moment on.

RELATED ARTICLE

Tired Of Having Your Bank Robbed?
Todd and his wife were visiting Seattle when they noticed an employment sign in a bank’s window, so they stopped in. Little did Todd know, he was about to put a long time robber out of business.
[ Click here to learn more. ]

[ Matt ] Now for the question I'm sure you get asked all the time... What the heck made you take on a bank robber? Looks like you have a new nickname because of it!

[ Todd ] It is in my nature to help others. When I saw the suspect lunge up onto the counter and assault the teller, I knew I had to do something about it. There is no telling what might have happened to the defenseless teller if I had not intervened.

I was also afraid for the safety of my wife who was seated next to me. One of the many thoughts that ran through my head when the suspect entered the bank was, "Is he going to turn and open fire on everyone in the bank including my wife and I?"

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Todd Jewell.

[ Matt ] Do you look back and question what made you stop him or think about how dangerous it was?

[ Todd ] I have no regrets for making the choice to help. I do realize that the outcome of the situation could have turned out much worse than it did. I am just thankful that no one was injured.

[ Matt ] Bodybuilding is obviously going very well for you. You are currently competing in the NPC and won the 2007 Emerald Cup and recently placed 7th at the 2007 NPC USA's. You were also our featured Amateur Bodybuilder of the Week TWICE! What are your plans for the future and do you have any upcoming contests that you will be competing in?

[ Todd ] I am taking the next year to add some more mass to my large frame. I plan to enter the 2008 NPC USA's and the 2008 IFBB North American. I hope to bring a much larger physique to the stage next year.

I have consistently improved my conditioning with each appearance and plan to continue this trend into next year and beyond. The 2007 USA's taught me many things that will help me to improve my placing next year.

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Todd Jewell At The 2007 NPC USA.

[ Matt ] If you had to pick one moment in your NPC career thus far, what would you say was your most memorable moment?

[ Todd ] I would have to say that taking first place in the super-heavyweight class at the 2007 NPC Emerald Cup was the most memorable moment thus far in my bodybuilding career. Brad and Elaine Craig put on one of the biggest and best national qualifiers in the country. This year happened to be the 25th Anniversary of the Emerald Cup which made it even better.

[ Matt ] Can you fill us in on what your workouts look like both during the off-season as well as during contest prep?

[ Todd ] I follow the same basic workout in the off-season as well as pre-contest. The workout is the same as the one I outlined for your amateur of the week article. I recently had the privilege of going through a quad workout with IFBB Pro Mark Dugdale. Mark is an incredibly nice guy.

After experiencing his lower volume style of training and feeling completely destroyed afterwards, I am experimenting with following his training schedule for a while. So far it seems to be working out very well.

If you are interested in seeing what this schedule looks like, go to www.toddjewell.com and click on the links button. There you will find a link to Mark Dugdale's website where the program is described in greater detail.

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Todd Jewell: 21 Years Old - 26 Years Old.

[ Matt ] Do you workout at home or at a gym?

[ Todd ] I currently train at YAC Fitness in Yakima, WA.

[ Matt ] Do you have a training partner or trainer?

[ Todd ] My wife and I train together right now. We are in the process of re-locating to the Kirkland, WA area where we would be training at the Gold's Gym. Hopefully with this move, I would have the opportunity to train with Mark Dugdale more often.

[ Matt ] Do you use a nutritionist or do you do all your meal planning yourself?

[ Todd ] I plan all of meals myself. My wife plays a huge role as she cooks numerous times every day for me.

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Todd Jewell.

[ Matt ] Can you fill us in on what your diet looks like both during the off-season as well as during contest prep?

[ Todd ] My diet doesn't change much other than the amount of calories I consume on a day to day basis. When in contest prep, I consume an average of 4500 calories per day. This consists of roughly 45% carbs, 35% protein and 20% fat.

My main source of carbs is oatmeal. I usually add a bit of all natural peanut butter for flavor and fat. I try to get several different sources of protein throughout the day such as egg whites, chicken breast, turkey breast, and about 8 -16 oz of steak per day.

When in the off-season, not much changes except for the amount of calories and I usually have 2 or 3 cheat meals per week such as a pizza, cheeseburger, and vanilla ice cream with Reese's Big Cups broken up over the top.

Cheat Meals:

My average caloric intake in the off-season is between 5500 - 6500 per day. Everything I eat is weighed out on a digital scale in grams and is logged in a book so that I can keep precise details of my nutritional intake.

[ Matt ] Do you stick with the same supplements throughout the year or do you make changes based on shows, etc.?

[ Todd ] I use the same supplements throughout the year. When in contest prep, I make sure to use branched chain amino acids before and after my cardio workouts to preserve as much lean mass as possible.

View BCAA Products Sorted By Top Sellers Here.

[ Matt ] Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years down the road?

[ Todd ] I would like to be competing as an IFBB Pro by the time I am 30 years old. I am currently 26, so that gives me 4 more years to get the job done. Eventually I would like to stand on stage at the Arnold Classic and the Olympia.

I hope to have secured a major sponsor within the next year or so to help me accomplish these goals. I would also love to open a gym with my wife within the next ten years. Eventually, my wife and I would like to start a family.

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Todd Jewell.

[ Matt ] Is there anyone you would like to thank who have helped you get to where you are today?

[ Todd ] First and foremost, I would like to thank my wife Shawna as she has been with me every step of the way. I couldn't have done any of it without her. I feel that behind every great bodybuilder, there is an even greater woman.

I would like to thank Matt Lowden for introducing me to the sport of bodybuilding. I would also like to thank my friends and family for all of their continued support over the years.

[ Matt ] Is there anything you would like to add to the interview before we wrap everything up?

[ Todd ] Thank you for choosing me as Amateur of the Week twice.

[ Matt ] Thank you again, Todd for taking time out of your day to do this interview. I wish you the best of luck in the future and hope to see you around Bodybuilding.com and BodySpace!